title: Hemifacial spasm and craniovertebral anomaly.
abstract: Two patients with congenital anomaly of the craniovertebral junction causing disabling hemifacial spasm (HFS) are presented. In one patient, complete cessation of the HFS occurred for a period of two years following simple bony decompression of the craniovertebral junction raising unanswered questions as to the exact pathogenesis of HFS. Eventually both patients required microvascular decompression at the root entry zone of the facial nerve.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's.
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Maroun
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mangan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D005152:Facial Muscles; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008833:Microcirculation; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012886:Skull / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging